An Angleton woman has sued the Colorado farm responsible for contaminated cantaloupes linked to a listeria outbreak that has killed eight and sickened dozens of others in 10 states, including nine Texans.

On Wednesday, Juanita Gomez filed a personal injury and negligence complaint in Brazoria County District Court against Jensen Farms.

Last week, Jensen Farms issued a voluntary recall of Rocky Ford cantaloupes because of possible listeria monocytogenes contamination. On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that a listeria strain found on Denver-area store melons matched bacteria samples taken from equipment and cantaloupe at a Jensen Farms packing facility. That strain is one of four contributing to the multi-state outbreak.

As of late Tuesday, the CDC counted 55 people in 14 states who had become ill.

Couple stricken

Gomez consumed cantaloupe that her husband bought from a Kroger or HEB in Angleton in early August, according to the lawsuit. By Aug. 20, Gomez developed a 105-degree fever and was admitted to Angleton Danbury Medical Center after blood tests revealed a listeria infection. According to the complaint, Gomez was sickened by the same strain involved in the Jensen Farms outbreak.

Inside and outside

Her gastrointestinal problems continued for several weeks after her release from the hospital. She was unable to eat a normal diet, lost significant weight and experienced persistent fatigue, the lawsuit said.

The FDA advises consumers against trying to wash the harmful bacteria from melons because "contamination may be both on the inside and outside of the cantaloupe. Cutting, slicing and dicing may also transfer harmful bacteria from the fruit's surface to the fruit's flesh."

Gomez is represented by the Seattle law firm that won a $1.1 million judgment against a San Antonio farm this summer for relatives of an 81-year-old Seguin man. He died in 2010 after eating listeria-contaminated celery.